Worcester woman claims $1M Powerball prize

A local woman bought one of the four winning $1 million lottery tickets sold in Massachusetts for Wednesday's mega Powerball jackpot. The last two of the four came forward today.

Quick pick tickets purchased by Lisa Bartlett of Worcester and David Cowan of Boston each matched five out of six numbers selected in Wednesday's drawing to win the multi-state game's second-tier prize.

Not a bad consolation prize, huh?

In total, there were four tickets sold in Massachusetts that came just one number shy of taking home the $587.5 million jackpot, which was split between ticket-holders in Arizona and Missouri.

Ms. Bartlett, 51, was joined by her husband, Wade, this morning at the Lottery's Braintree headquarters. The teacher expressed considerable excitement over winning the $1 million prize, indicating that it would help her family live a bit easier. She received the prize in a one-time, lump sum payment of $700,000. The couple planned to buy two new cars today on the way home to Worcester. Bartlett played her quick pick Powerball ticket at Galaxy Newsstand at 385 Southbridge St. in Auburn. The store will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Mr. Cowan, 54, works as an art dealer in Boston. He bought 20 quick pick tickets for the record-high Powerball drawing and lucked out when one matched the first five numbers drawn to win him a $1 million prize. He also received the prize in a one-time lump sum payment of $700,000 and plans to take a vacation, as well as invest for his retirement years. Mr. Cowan purchased his Powerball tickets at 7-Eleven at 1306 Washington St. in Boston. That store also will receive a $10,000 commission on the sale.

Mary Gilmore of Rockland and Jeremy Stephenson, an Alabama resident temporarily living in Boston, visited Lottery headquarters yesterday to claim their $1 million Powerball prizes.

With Wednesday night's jackpot win, Powerball's top prize for tomorrow resets to $40 million. In addition to Massachusetts, Powerball is played in 41 other states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings for the $2 game are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. in Florida. Drawing videos and game results are posted on the Lottery's website: www.masslottery.com.